Do college students understand the difference between private and public? Can a picture, status update or candid video cost a future graduate a job? Facebook was originally a closed circuit and safe social network site. In 2005, a college (.edu) e-mail address was required to join the network. However, the rules of Facebook have drastically changed. High school students, professors, potential employers - and even some of our parents - now have Facebook accounts. What should a college student make “public” on Facebook, if anything?
It may be obvious to say that most college students have attended a party or event where pictures where taken. The saying “a picture says a thousand words” is true. But those “words” can hurt you, especially in the job market. How would one explain to an employer a keg stand picture, risque outfit or illegal behavior such as drug use? Facebook users may not be aware that job employers actually monitor social network sites. In my current internship at Sugar Heaven, the general manager routinely screens the social media profile of job applicants - before and after hiring. Professional jobs require professional candidates.
What image should a college student present of himself or herself on Facebook? Here are some guidelines that I have developed for college students who want to enjoy their social network and not damage their professional reputation:
Do not use profanity. Status updates, such as quotes or song lyrics, should not contain profanity. For example, no one, except Jay-Z, should be telling the Facebook world that they have “99 problems but a b*tch ain't one.”
Do not post racist comments. Keep personal opinions, especially controversial ones, private.
Privacy settings. Check privacy account settings often on Facebook, because they constantly (and sometimes quietly) change. Make sure all settings are set to private for only “friends” or a certain group to view.
Do not post or be tagged in incriminating photos. Yes, the party might have been unforgettable, but maybe it should be forgettable to the Facebook world. Pictures of alcohol consumption (especially illegal underage consumption), explicit photos, sexual dancing, or drug use should not be included in a photo album.
Do not accept random friend requests. Not everyone that has a Facebook account wants to be a “friend.” Be careful and safe when accepting friend requests. View mutual friends and identify the person's identity before confirming his or her friend request.
Do not gossip, “Save the drama for your mama.” Do not make status updates about a boss or fellow employee. Posting something on Facebook is like putting a red shirt in a white load wash. The red may fade, but it will never disappear.
Relationship Status. “It's not official until it's Facebook official.” Do not post every aspect of a relationship on Facebook. There are only two people involved in a relationship. Keep this part of life private. An employer does not want to see an employee kissing his or her significant other in Hawaii after he/she called in sick the day before.
Facebook litmus test. When all else fails, in the new social media world, ask yourself what your mother would think if she read or saw your Facebook - because she just might.
So first of all I love the title, haha. I went to Vegas last month with friends and the whole time I was saying "What happens in Vegas ends up on Facebook". They thought it was hilarious, but it's true! After we came back from our trip there were hundreds of photos put on Facebook. Some were great pics, but others were a little bit much to be viewed by the whole world. I had to navigate through all the pictures and figure out which one's I thought were acceptable to have on my profile. It was kind of crazy. Maybe five years ago it was ok to put whatever you wanted online, but not anymore. You really do have to be careful about what you post online because it could come back to haunt you. I think it's great that you're trying to teach people the proper methods to protect themselves on social media. Get pumped for school!
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ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post because I did a similar one on my blog. Most people are not aware that what they put on Facebook will follow them everywhere. You are creating an image of yourself on Facebook, it is a way to market yourself and portray yourself. Yes, though most of the people that see you are your friends, you never know. Facebook has been known to change privacy settings without letting their users know and i think it is important for people to be aware of this. A lot of people can read what you are posting on Facebook and you have to be aware of this. Many companies look you up on Facebook and if your profile picture is a sexual one or has other negative connotations, it may not end well for you. I strongly believe that everything should not be on Facebook and I appreciate the sentiment of your post. So many times I am surprised at what people post on Facebook, it is as if they have no shame. All in all, I think that you have done a great job on your blog because you have listed everything people should do in a clear and concise way that will be useful for everybody reading it.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with this blog. Facebook is a great way to keep in touch with people and to inform people of what you are up to. Though, there needs to be a line drawn at some point. I know that if I were an employer and I saw one of my workers posting pictures and statuses that are extremely inappropriate I would be livid. No matter what age you are, you are never just representing yourself. You are constantly representing your family, school and job.
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